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Evan Mascagni, '11 on ABC World News

Evan Mascagni, '11, Policy Director for the Public Participation Project in San Francisco, CA, has become a national go-to expert when it comes to "SLAPP Suits" - strategic lawsuits against public participation. Here on ABC World News Evan briefly explains SLAPP suits in the context of a consumer review of a contractor's work.

And that’s why Hartinger — like many other Americans have — went online and wrote a review of the company.

“At the end, we are 95% happy with how everything turned out but we were told that this would be a 3-4 month project and by the time everything was signed off it was closer to 6-7 months. I would never refer them to anyone,” he wrote.

To his surprise, after he posted the review on a consumer rating website, he was slapped with a legal letter. In it, the contractor accused him of making “false comments” and said it was pulling the plug on his 10-year warranty.

Experts say it’s a growing issue: business owners retaliating after customers post critical comments on everything from handymen to dentists.

“These lawsuits are a form of bullying,” said Evan Mascagni, the policy director of the Public Participation Project. “They’re a tactic to silence your critics and force them into submission to pull down their negative review.”

But some small business owners said that they rely on word of mouth and that sometimes a negative comment was unfair and devastating.

Consumer advocates said there’s no way to guarantee that you won’t be sued but they suggested keeping these guidelines in mind when posting a review online:

1. Stick to opinions: Use words like “I think” and “in my experience.”

2. Get evidence: If there’s proof — i.e. a hair in your food or a discrepancy on your bill — snap some pictures for backup.

3. Read the fine print: Before signing any contracts with a business, make sure there’s no clause forbidding you from voicing your opinions online.

The third tip is a mistake Hartinger said he’d never make again.

“I had no idea signing this contract meant signing away my right to [an] honest review,” he said.

The good news for Hartinger: After a request for comment from ABC News, the Chicago company said it would reinstate Hartinger’s 10-year warranty.